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Okinawa Music Scene

By: Chika Kobayashi

Date Posted: 2000-07-14

Okinawa music scene is getting so much attention from all over Japan. Musicians from Okinawa are increasingly influencing the musicians in the mainland of Japan in the last few years. Namie Amuro is going to sing the official Summit song this month. Young groups from Okinawa Actors School such as Speed (recently dissolved) after the big hits, Da-Bump became very popular in the mainland of Japan. In the Orikon Chart Best 10, more than half of the entertainers are from Okinawa. Now, Okinawan indy’s(Independence? Ask Chika) are getting attention, too. Mongol 800 (The 3 members are 19 years old.) They sold 10000 CDs although they are in the category of Indy’s. They are popular not only in Okinawa but also in mainland Japan.

They are going to perform in the events in mainland Japan this year. The Album, “GO ON AS YOU ARE” is sold. Also, in the Punk Scene, “Jigoku Guruma” is busy in the concerts in mainland Japan. In Reggae Scene, King Rykyu Crew (changed the reggae scene in Okinawa) released Indy’s tape, “Sister Mayumi”. This Indy’s tape is becoming very popular among young people. The lyrics of the album are very interesting. They express modern social life in Japan. For example, one of the songs criticizes Enjo Date(Young girls dating with old men for money). I would like you to listen to local music since you are in Okinawa. There are British and Americans who mix techno music and Okinawan traditional music in Okinawa. In this section, I am going to introduce you these artists every week. See Ya!